The NFLPA and the NFL are Now Facing Off Over Underclassmen in the NFLPA All-Star Game

Again, the NFL is throwing its weight around here. We hear lots of complaints about paying college players. It is the NFL, though, that sets the conditions of employment, requiring that players be three years removed from their college entry class before being eligible in the NFL. This requirement was tested in the Maurice Clarett case. This situation is different than the question of whether the NFL can age limit the conditions of employment, though.

It makes sense that the NFLPA would want to include underclassmen. Many of the stars of the league were underclassmen entrants, and they are just as full of members of the organization as any other player. It’s also fine that there is a Senior Bowl where only seniors participate, because there are other avenues for a player to have an opportunity, and the NFLPA is trying to create one. Here, the NFL seeks to exclude employees who meet the conditions of employment, as set by them, and is taking a group action in the form of a boycott. The NFLPA has threatened that anti-trust word again that we became so familiar with during the offseason. The league has no problem evaluating underclassmen and having scouts interview them at the combine, or going to pro days involving underclassmen, or drafting underclassmen highly, so this boycott seems a step to far.

Everyone who plays in the game will do so after the date that underclassmen must declare for the NFL draft and give up their remaining eligibility. These underclassmen are committed and will be in the draft whether they play or not, and will be sought after and evaluated just like other prospective employees. No one is going to lose eligibility by participating. It seems an odd boycott, and I guarantee there are plenty of scouts who will be watching anyway they can, without violating the anti-trust directive.

[photo via Getty]